The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-06-21

ledulOg 10 the atlCall, the oIlSI lO
the portico of the church.
On first entering st. Peters one
feels overwhelmed with the size OF
the edifce and with the consciousness
of how small an atom one is in it.
The nave Is divided into three spa
cious aisles, by marble columns which
are ornamented with beautifully
carved medalhons and statues. The
floor IS inlaid with rare marbles, and
the ceiling is ornamented with q good
deal Of gliding.
On either side of the nave are chap
els, one being used for the services,
for at the high altar, which Is under
the dome, only the Pope oficiates.
Under the high altar the bodies OF st.
Peter and St. Paul are buried At
every turn and corner in this vast ed
ifice are magnificent monuments or
groups of statuary. Some of the finest
singing in Rome can be heard in St
Peters. for a portion Of the Pope's
choir sing there. Some of the voices
are marvellous, as they are q full so
pranO.
The Vatican, otherwise the largest
palace in the world. adjoins st. Pc
tiers. This palace contains twenty
courts and 1000 rooms, including
halls, ehapels, saloons and private
apartments, and has one of the finest
collections Of statuary in the world.
The Sistine chapel. the private chapel
Of the Pope, Is entirely Ornamented by
the genius OF Michael Angelo. On
the wall IN the rear Of the altar Is his
fresco of The Last Judgment" . which
has alas, become darkened with age,
and the coloring Is very indistinct. 4
few steps beyond the Sistine chapel
leads to the collection of paintings.
The first three or four rooms contain
modern paintings, beyond these are
the suite OF rooms called 'Raphael's
Loggia." The walls and ceilings are
decorated with frescoes by Raphael.
Michael Angeles exclamation at see
ing The School of Athens" was: 1T
Is the finest picture IN the worldI'
These frescoes were badly damaged
by the French. Among the paintings
by old masters, Is the .Transfgura-
ton" by Raphael, Z marvel of color
ing and graceful grouping.
In order to get q good idea OF the
size Of st. Peters one must walk
around it to the Yatican's collection
Of statuary. On q warm day the dis
tance seems interminable.
We had the singular good fortune
Of seeing the Pope, through apera
lures IN the doors of the yesubUle, as
he was returning from his waikiki the
garden. The Pope was robed simply
IN q white gown. red cloak and black
hat. His attendants were dressed in
common brocaded satin. knee brooches
and silk stockings. No person was
allowed to remain N the yestibule as
the Pope passed through.
The rooms containing the statuary
are very handsome and well kept
The most famous pieces Of statuary
are apollo Belyidere, . The Nrest-
lers." -Perseus with the head of Me
dusa. The LAGOON. representing q
Trojan priest and his sons being
strangled to death by snakes, and
The River God, representing the
Nile. Playing about and on this God
are innumerable little cherubs.
Another noted church Is the La
teran. which was formerly the papaI
residence. This church has only par
TALLY been decorated with frescCes.
The apse over the chancel Is one vast
mosaic. and the ceiling Of the nave
was supposed TO have been designed
by Michael Angelo. Under the high
altar the heads Of St Peter and St.
Paul are kept. These relics, together
with many others, are exposed to the
public during Holy Week. As We
were here IN Rome during Holy Week,
we went to some Of the services at the
Lateran. On Thursday, Friday and
Saturday. the Tenebrae and 1Iiserere
were sung. The Tenebrae are fifteen
prayers, which are chanted by the
the priests, and at the close Of each
prayer q candle Is extinguished. There
are A4SttA CcutL4c5 IL q Cu4ud4GBLC-
and on the extinction of the last, the
AIiserere Is sung. The choir were II
on one side Of the chancel and
as they sung the AIiserere it seemed
like q choir Of angelic voices. The
singer, . young man about
years Of age, had some notes
that were capable Of stirring ones
VERT. soul. There was no organ ae-
compartment, and so that was another
agreeable feature.
In a building adjoining the Lateran
are the "Sancta Scala. or Sacred
Stairs These marble steps, twenty
seven IN number, are supposed 10 have
been IN Pilates house. and the steps
over which Christ walked. They are
covered with wood, and no person Is
to ascend, except on his knees.
Daring Lent numbers Of people can
be seen ascending on their knees, say
Ing PaternUster on every step. l
had the misfortune TO see d man miss